Archive for Week 1 & 2 Discussions

Culture is defined in the textbook as a learned behavior of members of a given social group. All definitions of the word imply that culture is learned, and therefore we learn cultural rights and wrongs when it comes to communication. These unwritten rules apply to verbal and nonverbal communication. You grow up learning these things and by the time you’re an adult, you take no time at all pondering them in your brain. They become nature. An example would be burping. You know better than to let out a huge belch at a formal wedding during the best man’s speech, but you probably don’t think twice about burping during a late night snack in your dorm room with your friends. At some point early in your life you probably burped in a place that you weren’t supposed to, and a parent or older person probably communicated the fact that it wasn’t okay. From there you start forming ideas about where it is acceptable and where it is not. Or maybe no one told you, but you burped in an place where it is frowned upon and people gave you weird looks. Nonverbal communication like that is just as useful, and the same conclusions can be drawn from it.

Language and symbols are the basis of all communication, no matter what culture. If you are trying to communicate to someone using words, you’re going to have a hard time doing so if you don’t speak the same dialect. When I go on vacation to Mexico and we have to ask for directions or help reading menus, we have to adapt and use universal symbols. We know a few words of Spanish, and the people helping us know a few words of English, but both groups rely on nonverbals to relay the message.

People every day use communication whether they realize they are or not. Language and symbols are a huge part of communication. Language, such as how we speak, (example: English, French…) sign language (symbols using our hands), or just a simple smile are a means of communication. As soon as somebody acknowledges what we have said, shown, or done, it becomes communication.

Without communication, people in the world would not understand each other or even know what to do. It is important for people to communicate between each other to better the world, who we are, who we become, and how we lead others or help others become better people. Cultures, media… none of that would even exist without communication.

My answer? Communication itself is a part of culture, it basically helps to define the differences between different cultures. In our culture we have become much faster paced and we can now communicate much faster. Instead of waiting weeks for a letter we can send a text message and find out almost instantly what that person is thinking or doing. In the same light this has also helped lead to the increase of people becoming more open with their lives on the internet. Facebook for example allows us to communicate with multiple people in a very short amount of time giving us feedback almost instantly. This speedy communication has shaped our culture into a fast paced, open book that we want everyone to read.

Week 2 asks: How do language and symbols create communication?

Communication would be next to nothing without symbols and language. Language is the basis of all communication whether that be english, mung, or clicks with the tongue, all are languages that we use to communicate with one another. Even if there is nothing verbally said, gestures with the hands can help 2 people silently communicate. And symbols are all over the place. In fact a symbol recognition is almost faster than reading a slogan. The Nike swoosh is a great example of this, the reason why symbols work so well for communicating, is simply because a picture is worth a 1,000 words.

As technology has progressed throughout the ages, it has become increasingly easier to find ways to communicate between two parties. Television has been used since the beginning to produce advertisements for companies, the internet brought instant-messaging, followed by texting, etc. These developments have had a profound impact on modern-day culture. Services such as Pandora or Spotify allow you to find new artists to listen to on your computer. Almost one billion people have a Facebook account. Certain news stations will portray a certain message to their viewers. How people find their information impacts what they see and who they can become. Other technological advances such as the compact disc (CD) or iPod, for example, have spread the ownership of music across America. Music has always been a means of expressing feelings/opinions, and this has only ballooned its outreach. I can vouch for this, because music has had a real impact on the person I am today. This is only one example how communication has changed and influenced culture.

Week 2 Q:

In a way, language and symbols can send a very strong message to the person receiving it. They are left to interpret it in their own ways and form their own opinions, but it certainly can raise questions or get you to notice it. Many company logos are created to have some tie to the company or reference to something else; some examples include Apple, McDonald’s, NBC, and Baskin Robbins.
Other images intend to portray a message. One example is the “heartfist” logo for the band Rise Against. It contains two arrows, creating a circle around a heart with a fist inside. While mostly left up for interpretation, many believe that the arrows are meant to imply that we need to keep a sustainable lifestyle on Earth. The heart and fist say that the power is in your hands, and we need to fight for a (peaceful) revolution, to make a positive change to the world. Of course, this is just one logo of the millions in existence today, but it shows you how symbols can portray a message without actually using words.

Language and symbols are key to communication. language and symbols are universal. Even if our countries and cultures dont agree, we can all relate in having language and symbols. With the use of body language, facial expressions, and sign language can be used to communicate without even making a sound. Sign language is something that is essential for people who are deaf. And sometimes, body language can be more powerful then actually speaking. Facial expressions can show people your mood. Languages like Spanish, French, and Latin can be seen as romantic while German and Russian are strong and forceful. Without symbols in communication, there wouldn’t be the emphasis and emotion in our language.